Needle-pointing machine



R. A. HUTCHINSUN.

. NEEDLE FOINTING MACHINE.

APPLlcATloN r|LDAuG.15. 1919.`

1,419,140. Patenuuiw 13,1922.

`to provide a very simple,

merrain) A. nnreririvsoiuor Kniiiriwoarir, NEW JERSEY.

NEEDLE-POINTING MACHINE.

iaiaiio,

specification of Lettersraten't; Patented' grne 13. 1922;

.Appncation fried August 15, leia sereine. 317,671.

To all whom it may concern.' f i Be it known that l, Bierman A; HUTCHIN.- soN, a subject of the King of England, residing at Kenilworth, in the county ol- Union and State of New Jersey, have invented cer' tain new and useful Improvements in Needle-Pointing h/Iachines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ,of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertainsto make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this yspeciif cation.

The present invention relates, generally, to an improved construction ot needle pointing machine; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel ymachine for sharpening phonograph needles, and

-other sharp pointed articles.

The invention has for its principal object compact and eiiiciently operating machine y for grinding the points of sharp articles, and especially yfor re-sharpening the points of worn phonograph needles so that the same may be put in roper condition for further use. l

ther objects kor' the present invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood Jfrom the followingdetailed description of the same. Vith the various objects of the invention in view, the same consists, primarily, in the novel construction of needle pointing machine hereinafter set forth; and the invention consists, furthermore,.in the novel arrangements and combinations of t-he various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, all of which will be more fully .describedin the following specification, and then inally embodied` in the claims which are appended to and which form an` essential part ofthesaid speciication. p c

The invention is clearly illustrated-in the accompanying drawings,in which :-y

Figure 1 is aside elevation of ythe novel needle pointing machine, `made according 4to and embodyingthe principles of my present invention. n y i 4 n Figure 2 is a detail horizontal section,

taken on line 2f-2 in said Figure 1, and

drawn on an enlarged scale. c

f Similar characters 01E reference are `,em-

ployed in the said above-described views,to indicate corresponding parts. y s

Referring now to said drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates the complete novel needle pointing machine, made according to and embodying the principles of mylpresent invention, the same comprising, a ySuitable supporting frame 2 yprovided at its lower end with an openyolre-portion 3 'adapted to embrace the edge of a bench or table v4 for thepurpose of supporting the machine in 4operative gposition. The lower arm of said yoke-portion 3 is providedwith a thumb-screw 5, for 'engaging the bench or table 4 to clamp thesaid yolre-portionf thereto. 'l Integrally connected with said supporting frame 2 are a pair of vertically and upwardly extending parallel arms or standards 6, the same being spaced apart. Connected, with the upper free ends of said arms or standards 6 are bearing portions 7. Journaled for rotation in said bearing por .tions 7 is a` sleeve 8, upon which is fixedy a driving geant), located ,between said arms or standards 6. Secured` upon theouter end of saidsleeve yS yis a crank-handle 10. Adjustably supportedwithin said sleeve 8so as to extend longitudinally therethrough, and so as to project fromthe inner end thereof is a chuck-.spindle 11, havingy a central longitudinal opening or passage 12 extending through the same. The` inner end of said chuck-spindle 11is provided with an externally screw-threaded split end providing a plurality of contractable chuclcjaws 13, have ing outwardly tapering or conical ends 14. Arranged to screw upon said screw-threads is ajam or clamp nut 15, having an internal annular lip 16 adapted to engage and ride upon vsaid tapering ends 14 of saidchuck jaws 13, tocontractthe same about thefshank 17 of a-phonograph needle, or other similar article, -to"hold thesame in secured relation tosaid chuck-spindle so as to be .rotated thereby. `Said chuck-spindle 11 is provided .in its outer surface with a longitudinally extending spline 18, and passing through the hub ofasaid gear`9 andsaid sleeve S isa setscrew19, carrying at` its inner enda stud 20 which enters said spline 18, and when the set-screw 19 -is yscrewed home binds the vehucllr-rspindle` in desired adjusted position to project the need1e117 in proper relation tothegrinding wheel subsequently to be de- Sfibet' and( at the Sametime. ,sans the` ilo j chuck-spindle relatively to the sleeve 8 so as `mediate to rotate with the latter.

Connected with said supporting frame 2, so as to project inwardly therefrom, is an odset bracket member 21 having an upturned free end 22, to which is pivotally Secured, by a fulcrum pin 23, a tilting-frame or carrier 24. Said tilting-frame or carrier 24 is provided with a pair of laterally projecting bearing armjs 25, spaced one above the other, lin which is journaled a shaft 26, upon the upper free `end of whicn is fixed a grinding wheel 27. Coiled about said shaft 26 between the upper`.bearing arm25 and said grinding wheel 27 is a com pression spring 28 which tends to press said grinding wheel upwardly to hold its grinding face in abrading contact with the point 17 offsaid phonographneedle 17. Journaled in said tilting-frame or carrier 24 is a stud-shaft 29 upon the inner end of which is lxed a bevel gear 30 which meshes operatively with a bevel gear 31 mounted upon and in driving relation to said shaft 26. Said shaft v26 is provided with a longitudinally extending spline `32, and said bevel gear 31 is provided in its hub-portion with a pinslrey 33 which projects into said spline 32 so that while rotary movement of said bevel -gear 31 is transmitted to said shaft 26, the latter is nevertheless free for longitudinal movement through said bevel gear 31 and the supporting vbearing arms 25 of the tilting-frame or carrierv24. Provided in said standards 6, and spaced be louT said bearing portions 7, are additional bearing portions 34,in which is journaled a shaft 35. Fixed on said shaft 35, so as to mesh with said driving gear 9, is a smallv driven gear 36. Fixed upon the inner end of said shaft 35 is a rotor member 37 provided with a pair of laterally projecting driving pins 38, which when'said shaft 35 is rotated, move in an orbit described about the axis of said stud shaft 29. Said studshaft 29 is provided with a ftailpifn 39 which projects at right' angles to said shaft 29 yso'as to cross the orbit of movement of said driving pins 38, and consequently is positioned to be engaged by one of said driving pins 38 so that the rotary movement ofsaid shaft 35 is transmitted to said stud-shaft 29, and thence through the intergearing to saidshaft 26, whereby said grinding wheel 27 is operatively rotated. Connected with said tilting-frame or carrier 24 is a downwardly `projecting arm 40, provided at its lower extremity with a pointer or iinger 41 which co-operates with a graduated scale-plate `42 fixed on the .side of said supporting frame 2. Connected with the lower end of said arm 40 is an outwardly projecting swivel post 43, which is provided with a transverse internally screw-threaded opening adapted to retudinally to position the same so that the point of the needle 17 is properly positioned to be engaged by the grinding wheel 27. Where the machine` is employed to resharpen needles `of substantially the same length, but one adjustment of the chuckj spindle 11 is necessary, since the adjustment of said chuck-spindle is only necessary to initially position the chuck-jaws in desired spaced relation from the grinding-wheel in accordance with the length of the needle or other article to be reground or pointed.

The grinding-wheel 27 is depressible against the tension of the spring 28, so that the same may be moved downwardly and held down while inserting a needle in the chuckjaws. When the needle is secured to the chuck-spindle, and the grinding-wheel is released, the spring 28 causes the same to rise and engage the point of the needle with sufficient pressure to assure a thorough abrading operation of the grinding wheel against said needle point. Since the taper of the needle points may vary, and since it is desirable to adjust the angle of the upper grinding sur face of the grinding wheel to correspond to the pitch or angular degree of taper desired to be produced in the re-sharpened needle point, the grinding-wheel shaft 26 is mounted in the tilting-frame or carrier 24, in such a manner, that by operating the adjusting screw 44, the swivel-post 43 is caused to travel on the adjusting screw in the desired direction, and by transmitting `such movement through the arm 40 to the tilting-frame 24, will thereby rock or tilt the same on its fulcrum, and will consequently incline the grinding surface ofthe grinding-wheel to the desired angular degree. The various adjustments above mentioned having been made, the grinding operation is eifectedl as follows The crank-handle 10 is utilized to rotate the sleeve 8 and the chuck-spindle 11, so that rotation of the needle 17 against the surface of the `grinding kwheel 27 is caused. At the same time the gear 9bein`g rotated with the sleeve 8, transmits through the gear 36 a rotary motion to said shaft 35, and tothe `:rotor member 37 and its fingers 38. The tail pin 39 of the stud-shaft 29 is always maintained in a position to' be engaged by one of said fingers 38, within the reasonable limits of tilting adjustment imparted to the tilting frame 24, and consequently is whirled around by the engaging linger 38 to thereby rotate the shaft 29 and its gear 30, and in turn the gear 31 and shaft 26 so that a rotary motion is also ilnparted to the grinding .wheel 27. Since the gearing ratio between the gears 9 and 36 is such that a relatively high speed is imparted to the shaft 35 and consequently to the grinding wheel 27, it follows that the rotation of the needle 17 is comparatively slow, so that the point thereof is turned slowly against the rapidly moving grinding surface of the grinding wheel 27, thereby assuring that an even and symmetrically tapered and pointed needle end will be produced, and that the same will be properly resharpened lit for further use. In order to aid the operation of removing the resharpened needles from the chuck-spindle 11, I provide an ejector-rod 48 which extends forwardly through the rear end of said passage 12 of the chuck-spindle 11. Said ejector-rod possesses a head 49 at its outer end, and a spring 50 is coiled about the ejector rod between the rear end of the chuck-'spindle and said head 49. Ihen the jam-nut 15 is loosened from binding engagement with the chuck-jaws 18, the ejector-rod may be thrust forward to push against the inner end of the needle 17, to thereby eject the same from the chuck-j aws 18. The spring 50 returns the ejector-rod to normal initial or retracted position after the needle has been removed, and the ejector-rod is released.

While I have pointed out that the novel machine is particularly adapted for the purpose of re-sharpening worn phonograph needles, I do not necessarily limit its use to such purpose, since the principles of the invention maybe employed in machines adapted to either initially produce or to re-sharpen pointed articles of various kinds.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the several arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts as described in the foregoing specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. In a needle grinding machine, a main frame, a needle holding and rotating means journaled in said main frame, a tilting-frame pivoted to said main frame to situate the same below the plane of and forwardly offset from said needle holding and rotating means, a shaft journaled in said tiltingframe, a grinding wheel on said shaft, means for swinging said tilting-frame to angularly adjust the grinding wheel to a needle to be ground, and transmission means intermediate said needle holding and rotating means and said grinding wheel shaft forrotating the latter.

2. In a needle grinding machine, a main frame, a needle holding and rotating means journaled in said main frame, a. tilting-frame pivoted to said main frame to situate the same below the plane of and forwardly offset from said needle holding and rotating means, a shaft journaled in said tiltingframe, a grinding wheel on said sha-ft, means for swinging said tilting-frame to angularly adjust the grinding wheel to a needle to be ground, comprising a bracket on said main frame, an adjusting screw mounted in rotatable relation to said bracket, an arm connected with said tilting-frame having a swivel nut adapted to receive the threaded end of said adjusting screw; and transmission means intermediate said needle holding and rotating means and said grinding wheel shaft for rotating the latter.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of August, 1919.

RICHARD A. HUTCHINSON.

IVitnesses:

GEORGE D. RICHARDS, FREDK G. FRAENTZEL. 

